This book, for preservice and beginning teachers, emphasizes instruction as the focal point of teaching. It is intended to be a primer on general secondary instructional practices. Decision making, the most pervasive aspect of teaching, leads the presentation as the topic of chapter 1. Chapter 2 addresses the teacher's role in providing for a productive climate and attending to students' motivation. Chapter 3 presents a detailed description of planning. Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 deal specifically with instruction, beginning with behaviors and techniques for instruction that evolve into methods and strategies when used by the informed teacher. Chapter 8 addresses discipline. Evaluation is discussed in Chapter 9. The final chapter describes uses of the book beyond the mere presentation of teaching ideas. Each chapter contains one or more sections on the research and theoretical base for discrete topics. A summary is presented for each chapter and/or major section. Activities are suggested to promote student understanding and skill. Instruments to aid teachers in planning are appended to the chapters. (MT)